In a world where indulgence often clashes with wellness, there exists a beverage that tantalizes the senses while also having the ability to stir up a fervent debate on its health benefits.
That’s right – I’m talking about wine. In defense of wine and how it is good for you and some personal insight from someone who lives a healthy lifestyle with type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and on average drinks two glasses of wine a night.
Here are the key benefits of wine for your health.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Moderate consumption of red wine is often associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. This is partly attributed to antioxidants like resveratrol, which may help protect the lining of blood vessels in the heart.
A review of studies suggests that moderate wine drinkers have a lower risk of developing heart disease compared to non-drinkers and heavy drinkers.
Metabolic Syndrome
Some research indicates that moderate wine consumption could be linked with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. This effect is thought to be related to the polyphenols in wine, which may have beneficial effects on blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and insulin sensitivity.
By the way, I do have high cholesterol. it is genetic, I am on medicine for it as is my whole family. I also love red meat and fried foods. Every Saturday for lunch with my kids and after an hour long workout we grab In and Out.
By the way, you know what goes great with red meat? Red wine. I am on the lowest dosage of medicine for my cholesterol, so I cannot tell you if that is in direct correlation of my wine consumption – I haven’t asked my doctor.
All I know is my blood pressure has never been questioned and I never have shortness of breath. I consider myself in good health and feel my cardiovascular system performs well.
Longevity
Studies have suggested that moderate consumption of wine could be associated with a longer life span. This is potentially due to wine’s antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.
However, it’s important to note that lifestyle factors often associated with moderate wine drinkers, such as a balanced diet and regular physical activity, also contribute significantly to longevity.
I have no reference to this. Maybe when I am 80 years or older I will write more about this, but for research purposes, we can look at some famous wine makers and owners themselves.
Mike Grgich lived till 100. Fay Walker Wheeler – 90. Robert Hass – 90. Franco Zilani – 90 years old. Dino Illuminati – 92 years old. Hannah Weinberger – 92 years old.
Mental Health
There is some evidence that moderate wine consumption might be associated with a reduced risk of certain mental health issues, such as depression. However, excessive alcohol consumption is known to have a negative impact on mental health, underscoring the importance of moderation.
I can tell you that I am not depressed nor have been diagnosed with depression. I love my life and I am very happy… and I also love wine. When opening a bottle as I cook dinner and then eat my dinner, I feel quite happy!
Type 2 Diabetes
Moderate alcohol consumption has been linked with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in some populations. This effect is thought to be due to wine’s potential to improve insulin sensitivity.
I have Type 2 Diabetes due to genetics. I can tell you when I have wine on any given night and check my blood sugar levels in the morning it is not as high as when I didn’t indulge.
Everything in moderation. I workout daily in HIT classes, I walk or run on the treadmill at least an hour a day. Is wine healthy for me? I believe so. Both for mental purposes and physical.
After I do a hard workout and I’m sore that night, a glass of wine or two helps me sleep and I feel refreshed in the morning, alert and ready to tackle the day.
The Takeaway
Wine is one of oldest, if not the oldest, beverages in the world. It is time to embrace it. Enjoy it. How come you don’t see articles about the speciality coffee drinks that pack tons of sugar?
By the way, for a scale of reference, I did have to cut those out of my diet, along with juice in the morning.
As a wine business owner and a wine enthusiast I am tired of seeing articles how wine is bad for you. If it was so bad, it wouldn’t have been around this long.
Every individual is different, there is no one size fits all.
And it’s time to experience life and see how it can help! In my next post, the part 2 of this series, I’ll write more about the many other ways wine can enhance our lives. So stay tuned!
